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Oakland Raiders: Should Reggie McKenzie Budge on Marshawn Lynch Offer?
The Oakland Raiders made a $3 million per year offer to Marshawn Lynch, but he'd like to increase the pay rate. Should the front office accommodate?
Is running back Marshawn Lynch worth $4.5 million as a featured ball-carrier in the Oakland Raiders backfield? According to CBS Sports reporter Jason La Canfora, he certainly feels entitled to make slightly less than the 10th highest-paid tailback, Latavius Murray of the Minnesota Vikings, per Spotrac.
However, the Raiders hold all the leverage. Why should general manager Reggie McKenzie budge on his offer? Running back LeGarrette Blount, another bruising ball-carrier, who racked up 18 rushing touchdowns in the previous season, still needs a job. Blount also has much less mileage on his legs. He's carried the ball 1,168 times compared to Lynch's 2,144 rush attempts.
If Lynch's deal falls through, maybe McKenzie should be contacting a 30-year-old two-time Super Bowl champion in Blount before the draft kicks off on Thursday.
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Running back Adrian Peterson's two-year, $7 million deal with the New Orleans Saints gives the Raiders further negotiating leverage over Lynch. The 32-year-old ball-carrier went from cashing in $14 million per year as the focal point in the Vikings offense to $3.5 million per year as part of a duo with Mark Ingram in the backfield. In other words, McKenzie knows the running back market.
This year's deep running back class ranks as the biggest advantage to McKenzie's $3 million stance. Big-body prospects capable of filling the finisher role at goal line and short-yardage situations such as Samaje Perine, D'Onta Foreman and James Conner will be available after the second round. None of whom would sign rookie deals worth more than $1 million per year.
For a Raiders team preparing to hand out extensions to quarterback Derek Carr, edge-rusher Khalil Mack and offensive guard Gabe Jackson, per NBC Bay Area reporter Scott Bair, it's best to be frugal with acquisitions. Why pay a 31-year-old back $4.5 million when you can acquire a rookie for less than $1 million per year to fill the same role with fresher legs?
According to McKenzie during a pre-draft press conference, Thursday's draft sets a soft deadline for the staring contest at the negotiating table between the front office and Lynch. Of course, he left the door open by avoiding the word never in his statement. However, a rookie selection at the position would likely shut the door on Beast Mode:
"At some point, you'd like to know," McKenzie said. "Prior to the draft is that point. Our door is open. We're not shutting the door until that time pretty much, but who knows after that — not going to ever say never — but the door is still open."
In a perfect world, Lynch donning the silver and black colors would go down as an ideal NFL marriage with Skittles showering the participants in matrimonial bliss. But it's still a business measured by the bottom line, wins and Super Bowls. Somewhere between planning the costly wedding and happily ever after, McKenzie must draw the line on the budget for the event. $3 million seems like a worthy price tag with extra bells and whistles to tie the knot.
How bad does Lynch want to play for his city? With Beast Mode, there's baggage in the form of financial coverage. As heartless and unloving as it sounds, the Raiders have several options that come with less tread on their tires at a more affordable price.
